Tuesday Bolts – 2.19.13

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com: “The Thunder are listening to offers for backup point guard EricMaynor, who is eager for more playing time. Maynor will be a restricted free agent this summer. Utah needs a backup point guard and would be a good fit, but sources say the Jazz front office is consumed with the dilemma of whether to trade Jefferson or Paul Millsap.”

KD ranked Russ as his most stylish of All-Star Weekend: “I see Russell every single day, and I love his style. He’s off the wall with the shirts, everyone knows that. But the best thing about him is that he doesn’t have a stylist. It’s crazy. He just has a really good eye. And he didn’t disappoint this weekend. You saw every side of him, from camo suit pants to Air Jordans.”

Nick Collison tweets: “Driving on I-35 listening to John Cougar Mellancamp and drinking gas station coffee like the trill ass OG that I am”

Chris Ryan for Grantland on All-Star Saturday: “As the event drew to a close, I made my way down a flight of stairs toward the court, past commissioner-to-be Adam Silver. Somewhere, in the middle distance, I saw 2 Chainz. I thought, there’s the guy who will lead me into the night. By the time I got to the court and was herded away from the lingering few players and the Bryant family, it was too late. Tauheed was gone, off into a night of humidors and kings. Maybe it was just as well. My night had its highlights anyway (not least of which was flatlining with Irina Pavlova, who shockingly did not want to talk about Russian soccer with me). And besides, sometimes you have to let the Wookiee win.”

Clay Bennett’s statement on the passing of Dr. Jerry Buss: “Dr. Buss was a visionary, generous mentor and good friend. He will be deeply missed. The entire Thunder organization extends our heartfelt sympathy to the Buss family.”

Rob Mahoney of SI.com: “Durant’s smooth style has helped him tally massive point totals beneath the radar in the past, but his all-around game has improved so much this season that his performances are rarely this understated. That’s why it was nice to get a throwback performance of sorts from Durant; rather than assume creative duties on a team with so many talented ball-handlers, Durant just let the game — and wide-open shots — come to him. Really, no player in the All-Star Game was better equipped to take advantage of the opportunities presented. I don’t find anything at all wrong with Durant working off of Westbrook in Oklahoma City, but there’s a particular joy in seeing his work facilitated by so many other shot creators working in impromptu harmony.”

The Thunder need to see the Jazz of the 90's as a cautionary tale of what their fate will be if they don't start playing like their backs are against a cliff. They need to play very hard nosed defense if they want a chance at winning.

• Ken Berger, CBSSports.com: The Hawks are believed to be seeking a combination of expiring contracts, young players and draft picks in exchange for Smith, whose expressed desire for a five-year, approximately $90 million max contract has cooled the market for him. Rival executives continue to believe that the Suns have been aggressive in their pursuit of Smith and other trades, but even with a potential lottery pick from the Lakers in the Steve Nash deal, execs are skeptical that Phoenix has enough attractive young players to complete the deal. The Nets and Celtics have inquired about Smith, but it’s too early to say where those talks are going.

I will be very disappointed if we still have three 1st round picks after the trade deadline. We are not a rebuilding team we need to put at least one of those to work to help win a championship this year.

I perfer Jefferson over Millsap. Then again Millsap is a much better rebounder, and more athletic, that's what the team lacks, but Jefferson is far more capable with the ball in his hands, and a better reliable scorer. Both give us a dominate player in the paint, but i don't really get how it'll all work.

Either this trade involves us trading Perkins, or Ibaka because if we get one of them without trading either of those two, then someones gonna have to come off the bench, and and whoever that someone is isn't going to be too happy.

What i have come upon realization of these past few days with all the Jordan celebrations and such is that Lebron James will never be what Michael Jordan Was and still IS. Michael means so much more to Chicago and still does than Lebron does to Miami. Lebron James might end up as the most physical player to ever play the game, but Jordan had a unique combination of finesse and strength, a soft touch with powerful playmaking. Jordan is and always will be one of the best marketers of the sport of basketball, one point which no player for many more years will reach. People have more rings than him, more all-star games, more awards in different areas, but Jordan proficiency in so many areas of the game at the highest levels of the sport and his ability to set the bar so high it might just be unattainable is what makes Jordan the best player to ever play the game.

I just don't think we trade Perk. The team values his leadership, toughness and the intangibles he brings. And I do think that they worry what would happen in a series with the Grizzlies, Spurs or Lakers without him.

So I think any trade that happens will be with Maynor, draft picks or the young prospects.

@ILikePancakes As soon as Rondo went down, I thought Perkins, Jones, Maynor, TOR for Garnett was a win-win. So obviously, I agree with #2. If the Clippers want Millsap, #1 is pretty good, too. Kind of goes of track a little as it goes on.

@Thunder405 Wow, they really think we would trade the Toronto pick for a backup like Will Bynum? I want what those guys are smoking. Will Bynum isn't even a good fit for our team, he basically does all the same things as Reggie.

@MJOKC @bmuelle22 Wonder what the "high" asking price is. Dont put it past Presti to pull off a Mega Steal. Maynor has value also i wouldnt be that surprised to see Jackson moved and Maynor take the Back up role if we get a little insurance at pg back in a deal.

@MostJadedGamerThey aren't currently 19th. There are 30 teams. 16 make the playoffs. They're currently in 11th in the west. Add the 8 East teams to that and they're 19th overall. Subtract that from 30 and they're currently sitting 11th-12th.